Automatic train-stopping apparatus



- May 22,1923. l lAAMlZ c. c. HOLE AUTCMATIC TRAIN STOPPING APPARATUS Filedmay 1, 1922 3 sheets-snag; 1 l v a i ff/W l JW f@ y 3 f@ 61H01 nu;

May 22, )1923.

C` C. HOLE AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOPPING APPARATUS Filed May l, 1922 Fn- Jm D3.

May 22, 11923. C. C. HOLE AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOPPING APPARATUS Filed May l, 1922 3 Sheel s-Smt s wigs attoz neig Patented May 22, i923.

NETE

CHARLES C. HOLE, F FREWIONT, NEBRASKA.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-STOPPING APPARATUS.

Application led May 1, 1922. Serial No. 557,645.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, @Hannes C. Henn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fremont, in the county of Bodge and State of Nebraska, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Automatic Train-Stopping Japparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an automatic train stopping apparatus.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of train stopping apparatus and to provide a simple, practical and comparatively inexpensive train stopping apparatus of strong and durable construction, designed for use in conjunction with the block signaling system of a railway and capable of being readily applied to the same andi of being` automatically set by a train to control and automatically stop a second train, should the latter disregard and attempt to run under a danger signal set against the second train.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic train stolniiiig and controlling apparatus equipped with motor actuated means `for automatically returning the parts to their normal position for leaving the track in a clear and unobstructed 30 condition after the train, which -has set the device, has passed a sufficient distance beyond the said device to permit the following train to proceed with safety.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of an automatic train stopping apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention, a portion of the truck frame of a tender and the track being shown.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a track device having a vertical movable trippingmechanism.

Figure is a transverse sectional view of the same.

Figure 6 is a detail plan view illustrating the arrangement of the arcuate tripping member of head.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating another form of the invention.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view of the track device, having the trippingmember of head arranged to operate the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 7.

AIn the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated the preferred forms of the invention l designates a control valve comprising` a valve casing 2, a valve stem 3 and a valve head arranged to close upon a seat 5 of the valve casing and to be interposed between an inlet passage 6 and an outlet passage 7 to permit air to pass through the casing of the control valve and to escape when the said control valve is open and to prevent the passage of air through the valve casing when the control valve is closed. The inlet G is designed to be connected by asuitable pipe connection 8 with the train line pipe of the air brake mechanism of a train for bleeding the train line pipe to reduce the pressure therein to eifect a service or other application of the brakes of the train as designed. The outlet 7 is connected by a suitable pipe connection 9 with a reducing valve 10 and the said inlet is also adapted to be connected with the whistle signal pipe of the train. In practice a separate control valve will be employed for the train line pipe and for the whistle signal for independent operation7 but a signal control valve might be connected with both the train line pipe and the whistle signal pipe or any other air controlled mechanism so that when the control valve is opened by the means hereinafter described the brakes will be applied or the whistle signal sounded in the cab of the locomotive, as will be readily understood. llVhen separate control valves are employed for the signal whistle pipe and for the train line pipe it is not necessary to employ a reducing` valve in connection with the whistle signal mechanism. The reducing valve enables the air bled from the train line pipe to be controlled so as to produce the desired application o1' the air brakes and will prevent an emergency application oit the brakes, unless the said reducing valve be arranged to produce such a result.

The valve stem and the valve casing are preferably arranged in a vertical position but they will operate in any other desired position and the valve head. 4 is arranged adjacent to the upper end oi the valve stem which guided in a central socket 11 in the valve cap or bonnet 12, and the sait. stem 3, which extends through an opening` 13 in the bottom oit the valve. casing. is provided with an enlarged intermediate portion 14 and is guided at the lower portion 15 in a vertical opening 16 ot a guide block or member 17. rlhe valve casing 2 is provided at the bottom opening 3 with a suitable packing 13 and the enlarged intermediate portion 14 is provided with an opening 19 which is mounted a transverse roller 20. The transverse roller 20, which extends across the opening 19 in the said enlarged intermediate portion of the valve stems operates in an inclined slot 21 of an enlarged portion 22 ot a plunger 23 having a head 24. The headV 24 ot the plunger 23 has a working fit within the horizontal cylinder 25 and one or more coiled springs 26 is interposed between the plunger head 24 and one end or head 27 of the cylinder 25 and is adapted to urge the head 24 of the plunger toward the oppo site end orp the'cylinder 25 when the said plunger is unlocked and is tree to move. The guide block or member 17 is provided at the top with a supporting roller 17a located beneath the enlarged portion ot the plunger or reciprocating valve actuating member and is adapted to form an antiftriction support for the same. The slot 21 ot the plunger or member has horizontal terminal portions in which the roller is received at the ends of the movement of the plunger or reciprocating member 23l The spring or springs may be mounted in any desired manner and when the plunger is actuated by the said springs, the lower wall of the inclined slot 21 engages the roller 2O and leaves the roller and the valve stem moving the head 4 vertically and opening` vthe control valve to permit air pressure to escape through the control valve for reducing the train pipe pressure. This forward movement opens the valve and the rearward movement of the plunger causes the upper wall of the inclined-slot 21 to engage the roller 20 and move the valve head or inember 4 to its closed position on the seat 5. The cylinder is provided at the bottom with a drain aperture 28 to permit the escape of air pressure and to prevent accuinulation of air pressure within the cylinder so that such an accumulation will not interfere with the forward movement ot the plunger by the springs 26. The cylinder is connected adjacent to its 'forward end by a elatively small air pipe 29 with the storage drum or other source ot air pressure and in practice a valve 30 will be arranged within the cab, accessible to the engineer7 so that when the engineer is aware of the signals and is proceeding cautiously he may, by introducing` pressure into the cylinder 25, hold the plunger against forward movement and prevent an application of the brakes or a continued blowing of the signal whistle. When the air pressure is shut oit from the drinn it will be reduced to' normal by leakage through the said drain aperture 28. The pipe 29 also enables compressed air to be introduced into the cylinder 25 for the purpose ol1 restoring the control valve and the locking mechanism to their normal positions aiter an operation of the same by the track device. The valve 30 may be of any preferred construction for controlling the iiow of air through the air pipe 29.

The rear portion 31 of the plunger 23 is guided in a sleeve or casing 32 provided with an attaching base and having an aperture 34 at one side of it for the passage of a catch or locking member 35, which normally holds the plunger' in a retracted position at the rearward limit oct its movement. The catch or locking member 35, which is adapted to engage a recess 36 in the side o'lZ the rear portion 31 oi the plunger, is provided with a collar 37, against which bears a coiled spring 33 interposed between the said collar and the rear end of a transverse housing 39 and adapted to urge the catch or locking member' 35 inwardly into engage ment with the plunger. The catch or nlocking member extends through the outer end wall 40 oil the housing and is pivotally connected to a lever 41 at a point intermediate oil a pin 42 or other suitable fastening device. 'lf he lever 42, which is arranged in a `substantially vertical position, is i'iulcrumed at its upper end at 43 and at its lower end is pivotally connected at 44 to a rod or link 45, preferably extending in opposite directions and connected at its outer end to a tripping lever 46 and at its inner end to a short connecting lever 47. rlhe short connecting lever is iulcrumed centrally at 48 and is connected at its lower end to the rod or link and at its upper end to a rod or link 49. The tripping lever 46 is located at one side of the tender 50 and the rod or link 49 extends to the opposite side ot the tender and is pivoted to a tripping lever 51. The tripping levers 46 and 51 are fulcrumed intermediate ot their ends at 52 to vsuitable hangers 53 secured to the truck trame 54 of the tender and depending therefrom, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2` of the drawings. The tripping levers 46 and 51 are provided at their lower portions with vertitures forl the pivotal connections between the said levers and the parts connected thereto are designed in practice to be of sulficient size to permit the necessary play or movement of the parts and an inward movement of the lower arm of either of the tripping levers from its normal vertical position will operate to withdraw the catch or locking member from engagement with the plunger 23 to permit the latter to be actuated by the springs 26 for opening the control valve. As the movement of the tripping levers is transversely with relation to the movement of the train the forward or backward motion ot the train will not tend to oscillate the levers and any suitable form of guard may be arranged in advance and in rear of the said levers to prevent contact of the same with sno-w or other obstruction in the path of the levers. nism, just described, is preferably mounted on the truck frame 54 of the tender 50 but it may, of course, be mounted on any other desired portion of a train, as will be readily understood. It is preferable, however, to have the same carried by the truck frame, as the load carried by the tender or car will not affect the position of the mechanism with relation to the track. A tripping lever is arranged at each side of the train so that one of the tripping levers will always be in position to be operated by the track mechanism, hereinafter described, whether a train is traveling in one direction or the other and irrespective of whether the engine is in its normal position or reversed in respect to the train. A. suitable outer shell or casing 57 is provided for housing the control valve and the plunger mechanism.

rEhe tripping head or member 56 is arranged horizontally and is of substantially segmental form and is carried to and from to a projecting position by an approximately U-shaped slide or frame 58 composed of a horizontal bottom portion and substantially vertical sides. which extend through suitable openings 59 in a casing 60, designed to be mounted at the side of a track and provided at the said openings 59 with suitable guiding and packing means for excluding moisture and dust from the interior of the casing. The horizontally disposed tripping head 56, which operates as a double cam and which is adapted to actuate a tripping lever when the same is moving along it in either direction, is suitably connected to the upper endsV of the sides of the The train mecha-fJ U-shaped slide or frame and is located exteriorly of the casing 60 and when in its lowered position it is arranged belowA and out of the path of the tripping levers and when elevated to a projecting position is located in the path 'of the tripping` levers and is adapted to engage the one at that side of the track for swinging the tripping lever transversely of the tender to release the reciprocating member or plunger to open the control valve. The vertically movable trame or slide is provided at the bottom with spaced depending ears 6l arranged in pairs and pivotally connected by bolts 62 or other suitable fastening means to the side bars or members of an actuating lever G3 fulcrumed intermediate of its ends on the top of a stand 64 by a suitable horizontal pivot 65 and having one arm connected by the said pivots or bolts 62 to the vertically movable frame and equipped at the other arm with a weight 66, preferably secured to the side bars or members of the lever 63 and adapted, when the lever is free to move, to swing the weighted arm of the lever downwardly and thereby move the frame Or slide 58 upwardly to carry the tripping head 5G to its projecting position. The stand 64 is suitably secured to the bottom of the casing (SO, which may be constructed of any suitable metal and which may be mounted in a toundation or support of concrete or other suitable material. The casing is vprovided at the top with a removable plate or section G7, which is detachably bolted or otherwise secured over an opening 68 and which, when removed, is adapted to afford access to the interior of the casing 60. The weight may be of any desired form and is maintained in an elevated position by a toggle 69 composedof upper and lower links pivoted together at their adjacent ends at TO and having their adjacent pivoted portions arranged to be attracted and held by an electro-inagnet 7l, whereby. when t-he block signal circuit in which the electro-magnet is placed, has a current flowing through it as is the case when the block is clear, the magnet will be energized and will maintain the toggle in its locking or holding position to retain the weight elevated. The upper end of the upper link is pivoted at 72 to the top of the casing and the lower end of the lower link is pivoted to the transverse portion of the vertically movable frame or slide centrally of the same. The transverse portion is provided with central upwardly projecting ears 73 to receive the pivot 74 at the lower end of the toggle. lhen the frame moves upwardly the toggle breaks and the central portion of the toggle is carried away from the electro-magnet, and when the frame moves downward by the means, hereinafter described, the central portions of the links are returned to their normal position contiguous to the electro-magnet. The electro-magnet, which is of the ordinary construction and which consists of a coil and a soft metal core is arranged in the block rsignal circuit, through which a current of electricity normally flows but when the train enters the block the current ceases to How and the magnet becomes de-energized and permits the weight to move the slide or frame 58 upwardly and break the toggle.

When the train leaves and clears the block and the current kagain flows through the block signal circuit, it also passes through a motor circuit and operates an electric motor 76, which is connected by a train of gears 77 with a sprocket wheel 78. The sprocket wheel 78 actuates an endless sprocket chain 79 which is arranged on the said sprocket wheel 78 and on similar sprocket wheels 80 arranged in spaced relation with the sprocket wheel 78 and forming horizontal upper and lower flights or stretches and vertical flights or stretches ot the said endless sprocket chain. The motor circuit is provided with a circuit closing device or switch having an angle lever 81 pivoted at 82 to a suitable insulated support 88 and adapted to have one of its arms engage a lined contact 84 for closing the motor circuit. The other arm of the angle lever is arranged in the path of the vertically movable frame or support and is adapted to be engaged by the same as the iframe or support approaches the limit of its downward movement, whereby the angle lever 8l will be swung out of engagement with the iiXed contact 484k and the motor circuit opened when the trame or slide 58 reaches the limit of its downward movement. A coiled spring 85 is connected with the angle lever 8l tor urging the contact arm into engagement with the fixed contact 84 and a connecting wire 86 extends from the contact arm of the lever 8l to one ot the terminals of the motor circuit. The contact lever is suitably insulated from the vertically movable frame and when the frame or slide 58 is at the limit of its downward movement the motor circuit is open and when the slide or frame 58 is elevated the angle lever 8l is released and the motor circuit is closed so that when the block clears and the current is again flowing through the block signal circuit, with which the motor circuit is connected, the motor will be operated and will actuate the endless sprocket chain and carry a projecting member`87 into engagement with the weighted arm of the lever 68 and elevate the said weighted arm and thereby move the slide or frame 58 downwardly. This will return the toggle to its normal position contiguous to the electro-magnet and the latter being energized will maintain the toggle in its normal position. Any additional electrically controlled catch mechanism may be employed for lockit will be clear that the breaking of a rail,

wash-outer the like will break or interrupt v the block signal circuit and de-energize the electro-magnet and tripy the track mechanism and cause the trip head to be moved to its projecting operative position so that a train will be prevented from entering a defective block. When the motor has completed its operation of lifting the weighted arm of the lever and the slide or frame 58 has reached its lowermost position the circuit closing device or switchy will open the motor circuit and stop the electric motor. As the block signal system does not constitute a portion of the present invention, and as the present invention is applicable to the ordinary block signal system, illustration of the block signal system is deemed unnecessary.

In the form of the invention, illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, the arcuate trip member or head 88 is arranged vertically and is adapted to engage a depending arm of a trip lever 89, having a head 90 pivotally mounted at 91 and provided with upwardly projecting diverging cam portions 92 adapted to engage and move upwardly a vertically movable locking member 93. The locking member 98 is provided at its lower end with a disc or head 94 and it is provided at its intermediate portion with an opening 95 through which passes the rear portion of the plunger or reciprocating member and at the top of which is located a projection 96 adapted to engage a recess 97 in the top of the said plunger or member. The vertically movable locking member 98 is urged downwardly into engagement with the plunger or reciprocating member by means of a coiled spring 98 interposed between a shoulder 99 of the said locking member 98 and a guide 100. The locking member is guided by said upper guide 100 and by a lower guide 101 and the spring 98 urges the locking member downwardly into engagement with the reciprocating' member or plunger, when the said locking member 98 is free to move in the said direction.

The train stopping apparatus may be used with a block signal system or independently when a railroad is not equipped with a block signal system. /Vhen the train stopping apparatus is applied to a railroad not equipped with a block signal system the rails will be wired similar' to the rails ot a block signal system, so that the train stopping apparat-us will operate without the signal mechanism.

What is claimed is:

l. A train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve, a reciprocatory member or plunger separate from the valve and hav,- ing means for opening and closing the valve, means for locking the valve in its closed position, means for automatically actuating the plunger or member for opening the valve when the locking means is released, and tripping mechanism for releasing the locking means.

2. A train stopping apparatus, including a controlling` valve, a reciprocatory member separate from the valve and having means for opening and closing the valve, a locking device engaging the reciprocatory member for holding the valve closed, means for automatically actuating the said member to open the valve when the locking device is released, and tripping mechanism for releasing the lock device. l 3. A train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve, a reciprocable member operating at an angle to the valve having means lor actuating the same opening and closing the valve, yieldable means for urging the said member to open the valve, locking means for holding the valve normally closed, and tripping mechanism for releasing the locking means.

4. A train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve, a reciprocable member separate from the valve and operating at an angle to the same and having means for actuating the valve Jfor opening and closing the valve, means for locking thesaid memlber for holding the valve closed, automatically operable means or moving the member to open the valve When the locking means is released, tripping mechanism for releasing the locking means, and manually operable means for returning the member to its initial position and for holding the said member against movement.

5. A train stopping apparatus, includingA a cont-rolling valve, a reciprocable member separate from the valve and operating at an angle to the same and having means for positively actuating the valve in the opening and closing movement of the valve, means for locking the said member for holding the valve closed, automatically operable means for moving the member to open the valve when the locking means is released, tripping mechanism for releasing the locking means, and manually operable means 'for returning the member to its initial position and for holding the said member against movement, said manually operable means comprising a cylinder, and means for introducing compressed'air into the cylinder to effect the said holding of the movable member.

6. A train stoppingI apparatus, including a controlling valve, a reciprocable member separate 'from the valve and operating at an angle to the same and having means for positively actuating the valve inthe opening and closing movements of the valve, means lfor locking the said member for holding the valve closed, automatically operable means for moving the member to open the valve when the locking means is released, tripping mechanism for releasing the locking means,

and manually operable means for subjecting the member to air pressure lior holding the same against movement.

7. A train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve, a plunger having means for actuating the said valve to open and close the same, said plunger being also provided with a head, a cylinder receiving the head of the plunger, means 'for locking the plunger to hold the valve in its closed position, automatically operable means for urging the plunger to open the valve, and means for introducing compressed air into the said cylinder for returning vthe plunger to its initial position and also for holding the plunger against movement.

8. A train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve, a cylinder, a plunger having means for actuating the valve to open and close the same and provided With a head operating Within the cylinder, a springinterposed between the head and one end of the cylinder forl moving the plunger to open the valve, means tor introducing compressed air into the other end of the cylinder to hold the plunger against movement and also for returning the plunger to its initial position, means for locking the plunger to hold the valve in its closed position, and tripping mechanism for releasing the locking means.

9. A. train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve, a reciprocatory member separate from the valve and operating at an angle to the same and having inclined porions for actuating the valve to open and close the same, automatically operable means for moving the member to open the valve, locking means for holding the member against movement to maintain the valve in its closed position, and tripping mechanism connected With the locking means for -releasing the latter means for opening the valve.

10. A train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve having a reciprocatory stem, a reciprocatory member having an inclined slot, means carried by the stem for engaging the slot whereby the movement of the member Will reciprocate the stem to open or close the valve, means for actuating the member, locking means for holding the member to maintain the valve normally in its closed position, and tripping mechanism for releasing the locking means.

' ll. A train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve having a reciprocatory stem, a reciprocatory member provided with an inclined slot for horizontal terminal portions, a roller carried by the stem and operating in the said slot, whereby the member is adapted to 'reciprocate the stem to actuate the valve to open and close the same` means for actuating the member, locking means for holding the member to maintain the valve normally in its closed position, and tripping mechanism for releasing the locking means.

12. A train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve having a reciprocatory stem provided with an opening, a roller mounted in the opening, a reciprocatory member extending through the opening in the stem and provided with an inclined slot receiving the roller, means for' actuating the said member to reciprocate the stem, locking means for holding the member against movement to maintain the valve normally in a closed position, and tripping mechanism for releasing the locking means.

13. A train stopping apparatus, including ya controlling valve having a reciprocatory stem, a guide slidably receiving the stem and provided with a supporting roller, a reciprocatory member provided with means for actuating the stem to open and close the valve, said member being arranged upon and supported by the roller of the said guide, means for locking the member against movement to hold the valve normally closed, and tripping mechanism for releasingthe locking means.

14. tA train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve, a reciprocatory plunger ormember separate from the valve and operating at an angle to the same and provided with means for actuating thevalve to open and close the same, a catch Vfor holding the plunger or member to maintain the valve normally closed, a pivoted pendant tripping lever connected with the catch and adapted to be swung by a track device to release the plunger or member.

15. A train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve, a reciprocatory plunger or member separate from the valve and operating at an angle to the same and provided with means for actuating the valve to open and close the same, a catch for holding the plunger or member against movement, a spring for urging the catch towards the plunger or member, and a pivotally mounted tripping lever connected with the catch Jfor moving the same out of engagement with the plunger or member.

16. A train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve, a reciprocatory plunger or member separate from the valve and operatingat an angle to the same and provided with means for actuating the valve to open and close the same, a catch for holding the plunger or member against movement to maintain the valve normally in its closed position, and a laterally swinging tripping lever connected with the catch for moving the same out of engagement with the plunger or member.

17. A train stopping apparatus, including` a controlling valve, a reciprocatory member or plunger separate from the valve and operating at an angle to the same and provided with means for actuating the valve -to open and close the sante, a slidable catch for holding the member o-r plunger against movement, a pendant tripping lever and actuating Ilever connected with `the catch, and means for connecting the tripping lever with the actuating lever.

18. A train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve, a reciprocatory plunger or member provided with means for actuating the valve to open and close the same, laterally swinging tripping levers designed to be located at opposite sides of a train, a catch for holding the plunger or member against movement, and means for connect-l ing the tripping levers with the catch for releasing the catch when either of the tripping mgembers is actuated by a track device.

19. Atrain stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve, a plunger or member provided with `means for actuating the valve to open and close the same, a reciprocatory catch for holding the plunger or member against movement, a spring `for urging the catch towards its engaging position, an actuating lever connected with the catch, ay

pendant laterallyl swinging tripping lever having upper and lower arms, and means for connecting the upper arm with the actuating lever.

20. A train stopping apparatus, including acontrolling valve, ay plunger or member provided with means for actuating the fvalve to' open and close the same, a reciprocatory catch lfor holding the plunger or member .against movement, a spring for urging the catch towards its engaging position,Vv an actuating lever connected with the catch, a pendant laterally swinging tripping lever having upper and lower arms, and means for connecting the upper arm with the actuating lever, the lower arm being provided with a. vertical roller adapted to be engaged by the track device.

21. A train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve, a reciprocatory plunger or member provided with means for opening and closing the valve, a catch for engaging the plunger or member to hold the valve normally closed, a spring for moving the catch into engagement with the lever or member, an actuating lever connected with the catch, pendant laterally swinging tripping levers having upper and lower arms,

an intermediate connecting lever, and link connections between the upper army of the tripping levers and the other levers.

22. A train stopping apparatus, including a controlling valve, a re'ciprocable member separate Jfrom the valve and operating at an angle to the same and provided with means for actuating the valve to open and close the same, locking means for holding the said member to maintain the valve no-rmally closed, a laterally movable, tripping lio lever connected with the said locking means and adapted to release the same, and a horizontally disposed tripping head designed to be located in the path of the tripping lever for swinging the same.

23. A train stopping apparatus7 including a controlling valve, a reciprooable member separate from the valve and operating at an angle to the same and provided with means for actuating the valve to open and close the same7 looking means for holding the said member to maintain the valve normally closed, a laterally movable tripping lever connected with the said locking means and adapted to release the same, a horizontally disposed tripping head designed to be located in the path of the tripping lever for swinging the same, and means tor raising and lowering the tripping head to carry it into and out of a projecting engaging position.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand. v

CHARLES C. HOLE. 

